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March 5 San Carlos Next For Flightline; Unbeaten Colt Could Face Life Is Good In Met Mile

Undefeated and unchallenged Flightline worked four furlongs at 6:30 Sunday morning under Juan Leyva as he prepares for his 4-year-old debut in Santa Anita's Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 5.

“He went in 47 and four (47.80) according to the (Santa Anita) clockers,” trainer John Sadler said. “I had him in 48 and one on my watch, but more important is the way he went.

“He looked very comfortable and it was just a start on the road back. He'll return in the San Carlos, but the big goal is the Met Mile (Grade 1 at Belmont Park on June 11).”

Flightline, a $1 million son of Tapit, won the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu States by 11 ½ lengths on Dec. 26. He has captured his three starts by a combined margin of 37 ½ lengths and now a potential Race of the Century looms should he face Life Is Good in the Met Mile.

Life Is Good was an easy winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and dominating winner over Horse of the Year favorite Knicks Go in Saturday's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Sadler was asked about a possible meeting of the two in the Met Mile. “It would be a terrific race,” he said, “very exciting.”

Stay tuned.

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Robert B. Lewis Stakes: O’Neill Waiting On ‘Go’ Sign For Debut Winner Happy Jack

Doug O'Neill has but two horses nominated to next Sunday's Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., while Bob Baffert has more than half, 11 of the 20. O'Neill is considering debut winner Happy Jack for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, which he won in 2007 with Great Hunter and in 2012 with eventual Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another.

The Lewis is an official qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby, awarding 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.

“The plan is to run him if he gives us the go sign,” said O'Neill, who is considering an out-of-town stakes for his other Lewis nominee, Los Alamitos Futurity winner Slow Down Andy.

A son of Oxbow, who sired Hot Rod Charlie, Happy Jack was indeed a surprise winning first out at six furlongs on Jan. 22 for owner/breeder Calumet Farm, coming from behind at 24-1 to score by 1 1/4 lengths under Abel Cedillo, who would ride back in the Lewis.

Cedillo won three races yesterday, including the Palos Verdes Stakes on a determined Essential Wager for Bob Baffert.

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Flightline Works for San Carlos

Unbeaten Flightline (Tapit) tuned up for his expected 4-year-old debut in the Mar. 5 GII San Carlos S. with a four-furlong work in :47.80 (6/86) at Santa Anita Sunday.

“I had him in :48 and one on my watch, but more important is the way he went,” said trainer John Sadler. “He looked very comfortable and it was just a start on the road back. He'll return in the San Carlos, but the big goal is the [June 11 GI] Met Mile.”

Flightline, unchallenged in three lifetime starts, was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Santa Anita last April and he added an optional claimer at Del Mar in September before a devastating 11 1/2-length victory in the Dec. 26 GI Runhappy Malibu S. in his most recent start.

Asked about a possible meeting with Saturday's impressive GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner Life Is Good (Into Mischief), Sadler said, “It would be a terrific race, very exciting.”

The post Flightline Works for San Carlos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Essential Wager Wins Palos Verdes In Stakes Debut

In his initial stakes engagement, Essential Wager showed tremendous heart in choreographing a gate to wire victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden for the first time by Abel Cedillo, the 4-year-old Honor Code colt got six furlongs in 1:09.95.

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Essential Wager notched his third consecutive win and, according to trainer Bob Baffert, will make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs on March 5.

With his well fancied stablemate Cezanne a non-factor, Essential Wager enjoyed a length advantage over Team Merchants turning for home and held off determined longshot Shooters Shoot late for the victory.

“This horse is getting better and better,” said Baffert. “With Cezanne, I think it was a little too short for him…All of Essential Wager's races have been pretty impressive and actually, he's bred to not be a sprinter. Abel did a great job, got him outta there and held off those horses pretty well. You know, he took a lot of heat early and kept going.”

A two-length first condition allowance winner going the same distance at Los Alamitos Dec. 11, Essential Wager was the second choice in a field of five older horses at 9-5 and paid $5.60, $3.60 and $2.20.

“We started together and it's always special to come back to Santa Anita,” said longtime Baffert client Pegram, who flew in from northern Nevada. “This is my first time back in two years and we know why we call it The Great Race Place. It's very special and we always love to come back to Santa Anita.”

In his fourth career start, Essential Wager, who is out of the Officer mare Opus, picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $207,200 while improving his overall mark to 4-3-1-0.

Claimed for $50,000 on Jan. 2, Shooters Shoot had two lengths to make up at the furlong pole and came up a neck short in a big effort. Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Victor Espinoza, he was the longest shot in the field at 20-1 and paid $9.80 and $3.60.

Cezanne, who finished another 2 ¾ lengths back, had been idle since winning the Grade 3 Kona Gold Stakes here in April of last year, kept to his task to run third, 3 ½ lengths in front of Team Merchants. Off at 3-5, Cezanne paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.21, 45.17 and 57.41.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday that will include three stakes, is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

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